North Carolina

FIRST: Duke women's basketball forces overtime, beats North Carolina for Lawson's first regular-season rivalry win

Published

11 months ago

February 11, 2024

FIRST: Duke women's basketball forces overtime, beats North Carolina for Lawson's first regular-season rivalry win

It was always going to be a big game. Two punchy teams with lofty aspirations, two teams with the same ACC record. It did not disappoint. Despite falling behind in the third quarter, Duke rallied behind a monstrous performance from forward Delaney Thomas in the fourth quarter to win the game 68-60 in overtime.

Foul trouble plagued the hosts down the stretch, as both junior Reigan Richardson and Oluchi Okananwa picked up four fouls relatively early in the final period. Despite the added stress, it was Okananwa who drained a shot from deep to cut the lead to just three points with under five minutes left. It was, unsurprisingly, Thomas who managed to tie the game up at 48, converting the and-one. Then, it was Taina Mair who managed to seize the lead, dropping in a shot from deep to give the Blue Devils (16-7, 8-4 in the ACC) their first advantage of the game.

Tar Heel guard Lexi Donarski answered right back at the other end, drawing the foul and converting the extra shot to give the visitors the lead. Two more Okananwa free throws continued to keep the game tied, and with a minute-and-a-half left it was 53 apiece. Despite valiant attempts and several timeouts, the Blue Devils were unable to make a shot to end the period. A forced turnovers gave the visitors a chance with the clock ticking down, but the Duke defense stood strong and the game was tied heading into overtime.

The Tar Heels (15-8, 7-6) drew first blood in the extra period, as Kelly dropped in a shot from deep. However, the Blue Devils quickly answered. First it was Thomas who put the ball up for her 17th and 18th points of the game. Then, she drew a fifth foul on star North Carolina forward Alyssa Ustby. A Kennedy Brown put-back again gave the home squad the lead, as the clock ticked below two minutes. Following that up was Reigan Richardson with a jumper from the elbow, and a rebounding foul allowed Brown to extend the lead to six points with just under two minutes remaining. The dagger came from Mair, who dropped in a shot from the corner to extend the lead to seven. Some more solid defense from the hosts prevented the last-second comeback, and the Blue Devils exited victorious.

The tension was palpable heading into a tightly-contested second half, as the hard-nosed basketball continued. The only available points were physical finishes at the rim and deep, often contested 3-pointers. It was the Tar Heels who found their stroke first. No play was more representative of how the half started than when Ustby pump-faked down low, as freshman Thomas bit and Ustby drew the tough and-one basket. On the very next trip down the floor, it was North Carolina guard Deja Kelly who drew another one down low, converting the basket before hyping up what was a sizable turnout from Chapel Hill on her way to the line. The youthful home team appeared to have lost control.

Sophomore guard Emma Koabel managed to rally the troops for a skidding home team as the Tar Heels pulled away in the second half, draining a corner shot to cut the lead back to single digits. Even then, issues on both ends continued to plague the hosts. Seven fouls in the third quarter certainly did not help the Blue Devils, whose physical defense was coming back to bite them as they chased the game. The third quarter appeared like it might be the consequential one, as Duke finished the period down 12.

The Tar Heels came into the first with a plan, using Ustby to go right at Blue Devil freshman guard Jadyn Donovan. It worked, as Ustby took Donovan on the baseline and dropped in the bucket for the first points of the game. On the other end of the floor, the North Carolina defense was suffocating. Turnovers and mistakes abounded for Duke, which looked like it was struggling to find a rhythm. The shot clock ran low consistently, and forced poor selection from the field. At the under-5 timeout, the visitors led 11-4.

Then the Duke defense began to find its footing. Freshman standout guard Okananwa played as she often does, forcing turnovers and playing dynamically at both ends. On offense, it was Ashlon Jackson who provided a spark, pump-faking and taking a dribble before dropping a ball in from deep. The shots started to fall, as sophomore Taina Mair nailed one from deep. Some clever play design gave center Camilla Emsbo an easy look at the cup, and at the end of the quarter it was a one-point game.

The second period was much of the same, as the two teams battled it out. The defense was suffocating, and neither team was able to generate quality looks. The visitors continued to attack Donovan, who struggled on both ends of the floor. The freshman was jumpy on defense and unable to find her shooting stroke. Across the afternoon, Donovan went 0-for-3 from the field with a plus-minus of -4.

It was Thomas, however, who continued to provide a youthful jolt for the team. The freshman played excellent defense and provided some quality post play from the 4-spot. She often found herself in the position to grab rebounds and put up second-chance points when initial attempts failed to fall. Despite hard work on both ends of the floor, the first half ended much like the first quarter: with Duke down one.

After their tide-changing win, the Blue Devils next head to Blacksburg, Va., for a Thursday rematch with Virginia Tech.

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North Carolina

2024 photo galleries: Businesses hit hard by Helene in Western North Carolina

Published

4 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

2024 photo galleries: Businesses hit hard by Helene in Western North Carolina

Businesses in Western North Carolina took a hit after Helene hit on Sept. 27, causing unemployment to skyrocket. For example, before Helene, only around 5,000 were unemployed in the Buncombe County, but after the storm over 13,000 people out of work, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

Fraser fir farmers

Christmas Cottage

Asheville Tea Company

River Arts District

Ellaberry Llama Farm

Corner Kitchen

Zillicoah Beer Co.

Asheville breweries

US Reps. tour Asheville’s River Arts District

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Dec. 25, 2024

Published

12 hours ago

December 26, 2024

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

15-26-27-30-35, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

04-10-35-42-45, Lucky Ball: 02

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 8-0-0, Fireball: 3

Evening: 7-3-2, Fireball: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

Day: 9-0-3-0, Fireball: 7

Evening: 9-3-8-4, Fireball: 7

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

03-09-28-39-40

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Dec. 25 drawing

01-11-15-18-22

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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North Carolina

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

Published

24 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Santa Claus swaps reindeer for alpacas at farm in Waynesville

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. — At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour on Monday.

The event offered visitors a unique opportunity to pose for photos with Santa and interact closely with the farm’s animals.

The farm also featured a large mailbox for children to send their letters to Santa. Luanna Baldwin, a mother from Canton, expressed her delight with the experience.

“This was a great outing to take the girls for some Christmas magic,” Baldwin said. “They’ve been asking to see Santa, write a letter specifically, so that was super fun.”

At Winchester Creek Farm, Santa Claus traded in his traditional reindeer for alpacas during the farm’s Santa Tour, which concluded on Monday, Dec. 23.

WLOS via CNN Newsource

In addition to the alpacas, the tour allowed guests to feed and pet various other farm animals. Farm Manager Ashley Edwards highlighted the joy the event brings to visitors of all ages.

“We have people come in who are in their 60s, 70s, and above who have never touched a chicken before, and I’m able to provide that kind of happiness to their hearts to their soul, and I think it’s great,” Edwards said. “This is a memory people aren’t going to forget.”

Winchester Creek Farm has been hosting the Santa Tours for the past six years. Although this year’s event has ended, the farm offers tours throughout the year.

Winchester Creek Farm operates as a year-round working farm, raising animals primarily for the fiber produced by their coats.

SEE ALSO | Schools closed for winter break: Family fun things to do

Featured video is ABC11 24/7 Livestream

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